My
model represents Su-22 M4 used by Polish Air Forces. All planes were
modified for use within NATO agreements. It carries a new camouflage, so
called “NATO scheme”. I used old KOPRO kit with almost all available
updates – Aires cockpit, PART etched parts, Cutting Edge exhaust nozzle
and Cutting Edge exterior set. Despite this a lot of items had to be built
from scratch: wheel bays, opened electronic panel, opened engine panels
and lot more.

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images below to see larger images

After
fuselage halves were joint, I noticed, that cockpit was not straight. I
had to correct that, that’s why fuselage was cut around cockpit, You can
see this on first image. Wheel bays and landing gear legs were actually
build from scratch, only some original parts were used after major
modifications.

Planes
are rarely armed on the ground, so I decided to display rockets on self made
trolleys. Also a towing bar gives more live to this little display stand.

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images below to see larger images

A
great reference material for Su-22 M4 was released after my fuselage was glued
together. But I decided to cut out sections and build electronic bay and engine
compartment. I wanted to open engine panels because they are almost always open
on parked Su-22’s. One of the major problems of this kit is the thickness of
wings. Unfortunately, Cutting Edge repeated this mistake in their outer wings
included in exterior set. Also flaps and ailerons looked and worked different as
Cutting Edge made them, so I used only slats and slat inserts that were cut off
from wings – darker gray parts on the photo. Rest of wing parts are modified
kit items.